Adapter and holding system with an adapter

ABSTRACT

An adapter ( 10 ) for installing positioning elements ( 46, 48 ) on a holding rail ( 50 ) that is to be embedded into concrete has a receptacle ( 14 ) into which the holding rail ( 50 ) can be inserted, and at least one connector ( 36, 38, 40 ) through which a positioning element ( 46 ) can be installed on the adapter ( 10 ).

This claims the benefit of German Patent Application DE 10 2010 029 045.9, filed May 18, 2010 and hereby incorporated by reference herein.

The invention relates to an adapter for installing positioning elements on a holding rail that is to be embedded into concrete, to a holding system with an adapter and with a positioning element, as well as to a holding system with a holding rail that is to be embedded into concrete and with an adapter.

BACKGROUND

In order to install, for example, façade elements or roof superstructures on a concrete structure, holding rails are employed that are partially cast into the concrete structure. Before the concrete-pouring procedure of the concrete structure is carried out, the holding rails are installed in the desired position on or in the formwork of the concrete structure, so that the holding rails are partially surrounded by the liquid concrete when it is poured. When the concrete hardens, a positive fit is created between the holding rail—or between the anchor elements provided on the back of the holding rail—and the concrete structure so that good load transmission can be achieved between the holding rail and the concrete structure. During the concrete-pouring procedure, the holding rail has to be held securely in the desired place since the position can no longer be changed at a later point in time.

In the case of closed formwork, for instance, formwork for a wall, the holding rail can be fastened to the inside of the formwork, which prevents any change in the position of the rail while the concrete is being poured. Such an installation technique is not possible with open formwork, for example for a floor. From a construction and statics standpoint, however, the holding rail cannot be supported on the reinforcement bars via the anchor elements. One possibility for positioning the holding rail is to use a holding device of the type shown in international patent application WO 2008/007054 A2. The holding device can engage with the groove of the rail and can hold it in the formwork or in the liquid concrete by means of a holding arm arranged outside of the formwork. Such a holding device, however, hampers a continuous concrete-pouring procedure, especially when several holding devices are used that are distributed over the entire floor. Moreover, the range of such a holding arm is limited, so that it cannot be used for floors having a large surface area. Since the rail cannot be covered, it is not possible to rule out with certainty that no concrete will flow into the rail during the concrete-pouring procedure, and this then calls for laborious cleaning of the rail after the concrete has been poured.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a positioning device for a holding rail that will allow a fast, tailor-made and reliable positioning of the holding rail before and during the concrete-pouring procedure.

The present invention provides an adapter for installing positioning elements on a holding rail that is to be embedded into concrete is provided, whereby the adapter has a receptacle into which the holding rail can be inserted, and at least one connector by means of which a positioning element can be installed in the adapter. The holding rail is held in the prescribed position by the adapter to which several positioning elements can be fastened, and the holding rail, together with the adapter, is then embedded into the concrete. The positioning element can be selected from a wide array of positioning elements, as a result of which, in conjunction with the connector that allows the positioning elements to be replaced quickly, it is possible to achieve a quick and tailor-made adaptation to the position of the adapters and thus of the holding rail. Therefore, the holding rail is positioned completely independently of the anchor elements of the rail, exclusively by selecting and adapting the positioning elements. Consequently, the adapter can be used for various commercially available rails, without the need to make additional adaptations to the holding rail. Since the adapter does not engage with the rail, the rail can be covered or else filled with a foam or expanded polystyrene material during the concrete-pouring procedure in order to prevent the penetration of concrete.

The receptacle is preferably configured to be U-shaped and to have a base and two legs, so that the holding rail can be accommodated with a positive fit. Consequently, no other fastening means are necessary.

In this embodiment, at least one connector is provided, preferably on the base and/or on one or both legs. The adapter has a connector for a positioning element on preferably at least two directions that are perpendicular to each other, as a result of which the position can be adjusted in two directions that are perpendicular to each other, for example in the horizontal and vertical directions.

In order secure the holding rail in the receptacle, a fastening element onto which a fixation element is attached can be provided on at least one leg. The fixation element closes the receptacle, as a result of which the adapter completely surrounds the holding rail in the circumferential direction, so that the holding rail can be securely held in the receptacle before and during the concrete-pouring procedure. After the concrete has hardened, the holding rail is firmly embedded in the concrete structure. The fixation element can be removed after the concrete-pouring procedure, so that the holding rail can be utilized over its entire length without any restrictions.

The fastening elements can be, for instance, holes, and the fixation element can be a cable tie that extends through the two holes. The receptacle can easily be closed by means of such a cable tie, without a need for any other tools. Moreover, the cable tie can easily be removed after the concrete-pouring procedure.

The fastening elements, however, can also be hooks, and the fixation element can be a cover that is clipped onto the hook.

The cover can also be fastened to one of the legs by means of a hinge, so that this is held on the adapter in such a way that it cannot come loose.

In order to securely fasten the positioning element to the adapter, the connector preferably has an undercut, especially in the form of a groove, a rail, a bayonet catch or a thread or threading. All of these connector types have in common that they allow a fast and quick replacement of the positioning element, for example by sliding, screwing or turning the positioning element. Moreover, the positioning element is held tension-resistant and pressure-resistant on the adapter by the undercut in a direction perpendicular to the connector.

Furthermore, according to the invention, a holding system is provided with an adapter of the above-mentioned type and with at least one positioning element that is fastened to the connector of the adapter. The positioning element can be selected from a wide array of different prefabricated positioning elements, as a result of which it can be specifically adapted to the position desired for the holding rails.

The positioning element is, for instance, a rod that can serve as a spacer. The rod can be supported on the inside of the formwork or else on part of the reinforcement bars. Preferably, a variety of lengths can be selected for the rod so as to allow a fast, tailor-made adaptation.

As an alternative, however, it is also conceivable for the length of the rod to be adjustable, so that the length of the positioning element can be adapted without having to replace the positioning element.

The length can also be adjusted by means of the connector or by another structure of the positioning element. Thus, the rod can be installed on the adapter so that it can be adjusted, as a result of which various positions are possible with one rod length.

It is also conceivable for the positioning element to have a pedestal on which the adapter can be supported. The pedestal provides a wider footprint, so that the positioning element can be supported, for example, on part of the reinforcement bars.

The adapter can be made at least partially, for instance, of plastic. First of all, plastic entails the advantage that it does not corrode in the hardened concrete, thereby ruling out damage to the concrete later on. Secondly, plastics can also be worked with the tools that are commonly available at construction sites, thus allowing the length of the positioning element to be easily adapted.

However, it is likewise conceivable for the positioning element to be made partially of concrete or of a cement-bonded material. If the positioning element is supported on a part of the formwork, then no visible flaws appear, for example, on exposed concrete. Moreover, as a consequence, the positioning element has the same mechanical properties as the surrounding concrete.

Furthermore, according to the invention, a holding system with a holding rail that is to be embedded into concrete and with an adapter according to one of the preceding claims is provided, whereby the holding rail is firmly accommodated in the adapter, and a positioning element selected from among a wide array of positioning elements is installed on the adapter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Additional advantages and features ensue from the description presented below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. These show the following:

FIG. 1—a perspective view of an adapter according to the invention;

FIG. 2—a holding system with a holding rail and the adapter from FIG. 1;

FIG. 3—a view of a holding system from FIG. 2 in formwork for a concrete structure;

FIG. 4—a detailed view of a part of a positioning element;

FIG. 5—a detailed view of a second part of a positioning element;

FIG. 6—a second embodiment of a holding system with the adapter from FIG. 1;

FIG. 7—a view of a holding system in formwork with a second embodiment of an adapter;

FIG. 8—a third embodiment of an adapter;

FIG. 9—an embodiment of a positioning element whose length is adjustable; and

FIG. 10—a holding system with a holding rail, the adapter from FIG. 1 and the positioning element from FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows an adapter 10 that has an open space 12 in which a holding rail 50 can be accommodated in order to hold said holding rail in a structure that is to be made of concrete (also see FIGS. 2 and 3). The holding rail 50 has an essentially C-shaped or U-shaped cross section with a groove 52 that, in this case, is arranged on the top, in which a fastening element of a structure can be held. Rod-shaped anchor elements 54 are fastened on the opposite side, namely, the bottom, of the holding rail 50. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the holding rail 50 can be placed into concrete formwork 80 for a concrete structure, for instance a floor, and the holding rail 50 can be embedded into the concrete during the concrete-pouring procedure. The concrete formwork 80 is open towards the top and comprises side formwork 82 as well bottom formwork 84. A reinforcement bar 86 for the concrete structure is arranged in the formwork 80.

When the concrete structure is being made of concrete, the holding rail 50 is cast into the concrete structure in such a way that the groove is accessible from the outside of the concrete structure in order to fasten structures such as, for instance, roof superstructures, onto the rail. After the concrete has hardened, the anchor elements 54 hold the holding rail 50 in the concrete structure with a positive fit.

The adapter 10 has a receptacle 14 that is configured here to be U-shaped and to have a base 16 and two legs 18, 20 positioned across from each other (FIG. 1). A cover 22 that can close the open space 12 in the circumferential direction is held at the free ends 24, 26, of the legs 18, 20. The cover 22 is joined to the free end 26 of the second leg 20 by means of a film hinge 34, and it can be fastened by means of a latching element 28 to a fastening element 32 that is configured as a latching hook at the free end 24 of the first leg 18.

On the outside of the adapter 10 facing away from the open space 12, a connector 36, 38, 40 is provided for each positioning element on the base 16 as well as on the legs 18, 20. The connectors 36, 38, 40 are configured here as rails with a dovetailed cross section and undercut joining surfaces 41.

On the inside of the legs 18, 20 facing the open space 12, there is a spring element 42, 44 facing in the direction of the open space 12. These spring elements 42, 44 can firmly clamp the holding rail 50 in the receptacle 14 in that, when the holding rail 50 is put in place, they latch behind thickened areas 53 that are provided on the outside of the holding rail 50.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, a positioning element 46 can be fastened to each one of the connectors 36, 38, 40. The adapter 10 can be supported, for instance, on the formwork or on part of the reinforcement bars, by means of an appropriate positioning element 46, as a result of which the adapter 10 with the holding rail 50 held in it are securely held in a prescribed position before and during the pouring of the concrete.

Since connectors 36, 38, 40 are provided on the base 16 and on the legs 18, 20, the adapter 10 can be oriented and held in the horizontal and vertical directions by means of appropriate positioning elements 46. In the horizontal direction, the positioning elements 46 can be supported on the side formwork 82, while in the vertical direction, the positioning elements 46 can be supported on the reinforcement bars 86 or on the bottom formwork 84.

The positioning element 46 has a baseplate 48 onto which a sleeve 56 is fastened. On the opposite side of the baseplate 48, there are two parallel undercut rails 55 with which the positioning element 46 can be fastened to the undercut joining surfaces 41 of the adapter 10. In the lengthwise direction of the rails 55, two latching elements 57 are provided at the edge of the baseplate 48 and they can latch at the edge of the connector 38, thus affixing the positioning element 46 in the lengthwise direction.

A rod 60 can be inserted into the sleeve 56. The length of the rod 60 can be selected in such a way that the rod 60 can be supported on the formwork 80 or on the reinforcement bars 86 (FIG. 3). The rods 60 here are configured to be, for instance, hollow, and they have cutouts 61 (also see FIG. 3) through which the concrete can flow into the interior of the rods 60 in order to minimize flaws caused by the positioning elements 46.

The rods 60 can be supplied in various prefabricated lengths, so that in each case, a rod 60 of the appropriate length can be selected. However, it is likewise conceivable that the length of the rod 60 can be adapted on-site or that it is configured such that its length is adjustable.

Other parts of the positioning element 46, for instance a support element 62 or a pedestal 64, both of which enlarge the contact surface of the positioning element 46, can be added onto the end of the rod 60 that is opposite from the holding rail 50.

By way of an example, FIG. 4 shows a star-shaped support element 62 that is suitable to support the positioning element 46 on a round component, for example, on part of the reinforcement bars.

FIG. 5 shows a pedestal 64 with which the contact surface on formwork can be enlarged. Moreover, the bottom of this pedestal 64 is configured in such a way that it can be placed onto a connector 36, 38, 40 of an adapter 10. Therefore, the pedestal 64 can be fastened to an adapter 10 for purposes of supporting the holding rail 50, for example, on the reinforcement bars (FIG. 6). However, the pedestal 64 can also join a second adapter 10 to the first adapter 10 via a rod 60 and another pedestal 64 or flange 56.

During the concrete-pouring procedure, the adapter 10 holds the holding rail 50 in place until the concrete has hardened sufficiently. The adapter 10 as well as the positioning elements 46, 48 remain in the hardened concrete but do not fulfill any load-bearing function. After the concrete has hardened, the load transfer between the holding rail and the concrete structure takes place exclusively via a positive fit between the concrete structure and the anchor elements 54 or the holding rail 50. This is why the cover 22 can be removed after the concrete has hardened so that the groove 52 of the holding rail 50 can be utilized over its entire length. Since the adapter 10 does not engage with the holding rail 50 or with the groove 52, the groove 52 can be covered during the concrete-pouring procedure in order to keep the groove 52 clean. The groove 52 can also be filled, for instance with foamed material that is easy to remove after the concrete-pouring procedure.

In order to avoid corrosion of the adapter 10 or of the positioning element 46, they are preferably made of plastic. As an alternative, it is also conceivable for the adapter 10 and the positioning element 46 to be made at least partially of concrete or of another cement-bonded material.

Instead of the rail-like connectors 36, 38, 40 shown here, other types of connectors are also conceivable. In particular, the connector 36, 38, 40 can be configured to be, for example, in the form of a bayonet catch or a thread. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the connectors 36, 38 are configured, for instance, to be round, and they have a surrounding undercut joining surface 41. Here, the positioning element 46 or the baseplate 48 of the positioning element 46 has several latching elements 65 that are arranged in a star-shaped pattern and that can engage with the joining surface 41.

Instead of the embodiment shown here with a folding cover 22, it is also conceivable for a latching hook to be provided on both legs 18, 20 so that the cover 22 can latch into this latching hook. Instead of the cover, it is also possible to employ other suitable fixation elements in order to close the receptacle 14. For example, instead of the cover 22, a cable tie 75 can be used that, in each case, is fastened to a hole 66, 68 provided at one of the free ends 24, 26 (FIG. 8).

Another embodiment of a positioning element 46, whose length can be adjusted, is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. The rod 60 here is mounted on a spring plate 70 with a leg 72 that is resilient towards the top and a leg 74 that is resilient towards the bottom. For assembling the rod 60, the legs 72, 74 are pressed together and the rod 60 is inserted into the cutouts 76, 78. Subsequently, the legs 72, 74 are released so that they are resilient towards the top and towards the bottom, as a result of which the rod 60 tilts in the cutouts 76, 78 and is securely held in place. In order to lengthen the positioning element 46, the legs 72, 74 are pressed together, as a result of which the rod 60 is released. However, any other desired clamping modalities or length-adjustment modalities are likewise conceivable. 

1. An adapter for installing positioners on a holding rail to be embedded into concrete, comprising: a receptacle, the holding rail insertable into the receptacle; and at least one connector for installing a positioner on the adapter.
 2. The adapter as recited in claim 1 wherein the receptacle is U-shaped and has a base and two legs, so that the holding rail can be accommodated with a positive fit.
 3. The adapter as recited in claim 2 wherein the at least one connector is provided on the base and/or on one or both of the two legs.
 4. The adapter as recited in claim 2 further comprising a fastener onto which a fixater is affixed is provided on at least one leg.
 5. The adapter as recited in claim 4 wherein the fastener includes two holes, and the fixater is a cable tie extending through the two holes.
 6. The adapter as recited in claim 4 wherein the fastener includes a hook, and the fixater is a cover clipped onto the hook.
 7. The adapter as recited in claim 6 wherein the cover is fastened to one of the legs by a hinge.
 8. The adapter as recited in claim 1 wherein the connector has an undercut.
 9. The adaptor as recited in claim 8 wherein the undercut is in the form of a groove, a rail, a bayonet catch or a thread.
 10. A holding system for positioning a holding rail to be embedded into concrete, comprising: an adapter as recited in claim 1; and the at least one positioner fastened to the connector of the adapter.
 11. The holding system as recited in claim 10 wherein the positioner includes a rod capable of being a spacer.
 12. The holding system as recited in claim 10 wherein a length of the positioner is variable.
 13. The holding system as recited in claim 11 wherein the rod is installed on the adapter so as to be adjustable in length.
 14. The holding system as recited in claim 10 wherein the positioner has a pedestal.
 15. The holding system as recited in claim 10 wherein the adapter and/or the positioner is/are at least partially made of plastic.
 16. The holding system as recited in claim 10 wherein the adapter and/or the positioning element are at least partially made of concrete or of a cement-bonded material.
 17. A holding system comprising: a holding rail to be embedded into concrete; an adapter as recited in claim 1, the holding rail firmly accommodated in the adapter; and a positioning element selected from a plurality of variable available positioning elements being installed on the adapter. 